Coaching / Coach Status vs. Coaching Certification

Coach Status vs. Coaching Certification

Coach status and coaching certification are two core components that share our vision of ensuring a safe environment for all equestrians.

Coach Status vs. NCCP Coaching Certification

Coach Status and Coaching Certification are two independent rankings that work in tandem to verify all safety, screening, and coaching education requirements have been met. Only coaches who are EC NCCP certified AND licensed are permitted to deliver and/or evaluate the Rookie Riders and Learn to Ride & Drive programs.

Coach Status is like a driver’s license; it must be current and renewed in order to instructor/coach. It is the screening process.

Coaching Certification is like a diploma; after successfully passing the evaluation, the instructor/coach is certified for life*. It is the educational process.

* EC NCCP coaches/instructors are required to submit professional development points and have an issued Coach Status (License) to keep their certification current.

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Coach Status

The Coach Status Program is the core commitment to Safe Sport and the Responsible Coaching Movement to recognize and identify active coaches within the equestrian community.

What does it mean to be or work with a licensed or registered instructor/coach?

Instructors/coaches who hold an active Coach Status:

have completed safe sport training
are thoroughly screened
are appropriately insured
hold coach certification, or are actively engaged in coach training.

Levels

There are two different levels of screening currently available.

Registered Coach Status: Instructors or coaches who are engaged in coach training but haven’t completed their certification process yet.
Licensed Coach Status: Instructors or coaches who have completed one type of certification, such as NCCP, CHA, Pony Club A, International Trainer Passport, etc.

Coaching Certification

We are dedicated to providing instructors/coaches the necessary tools to make the equestrian experience safe and enjoyable for all participants, horse and human, and to develop excellence in horsemanship.

The Equestrian Canada (EC) National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) is developed in partnership with:

What does it mean to be or work with an EC NCCP certified instructor/coach?

The EC NCCP is important as:

It is the only Canadian equestrian sport coaching and instructor certifying program.
It is recognized nationally and internationally for the safety standards.
It provides a structure whereby instructors/coaches can enter and progress as they improve their instructor/coaching expertise.
It improves the level of performance and competence of Canadian equestrian instructors/coaches and their students

Frequently Asked Questions

: The NCCP certification is earned upon completion of the educational process; coaches must then ensure they remain up to date with all the requirements. Equestrian Canada only recognizes coaches as active if they hold a Coach Status (Registered or Licensed) according to the following guidelines: 2021 - No formal requirements at EC sanctioned events. Registered Coach Status recommended. 2022 - Registered Coach Status mandatory at all EC sanctioned events. 2023 - Licensed Coach mandatory at all EC sanctioned Platinum and Gold events. Registered Coach mandatory at EC sanctioned Silver and Bronze events. 2024 - Licensed Coach mandatory at all EC Sanctioned Events. 2025 - Licensed Coach and Certification required at all EC Sanctioned events.
: Yes. To obtain a Coach Status, coaches must maintain an active PTSO membership. Membership validity will be verified at the time of application, issuance, and renewal. It is the responsibility of the coach to ensure that their PTSO membership does not lapse.
: No. Candidates can apply for a Coach Status before completing all of the requirements. However, it is important to note that candidates have only 90 days from the purchase date to complete the requirements. We highly recommend completing the first aid training and vulnerable sector search (when applicable) before applying.
: A vulnerable sector check is a police information check plus a check to see if a person has a record suspension (pardon) for sexual offences. The search is a one-time requirement only if the candidate was born prior Jan. 1, 2022. An Access to Information Request from the RCMP says that the date of birth belonging to the youngest person with a pardoned sexual offence is Feb. 28, 1986. There are no pardoned sexual offences for candidates born after Feb. 28, 1986. A vulnerable sector search may take up to three months to complete and you must present yourself at the police station. Check this resource (link to: https://coach.ca/sites/default/files/2021-10/Background-Screening-Policy_Oct2021-EN.pdf) from the Coaching Association of Canada for more information on criminal record check and vulnerable sector searches.
: Yes. To obtain a Coach Status, EC NCCP Instructors/Coaches must maintain an active EC Sport Licence. Sport Licence validity will be verified at the time of application, issuance, and renewal. It is the responsibility of the coach to ensure that their EC Sport Licence does not lapse. Any level of Sport Licence is permitted for the purpose of holding a Coach Status; coaches are encouraged to purchase the Sport Licence required for other activities (e.g. Horse Recordings, competition, etc.). Check this link (link to: https://www.equestrian.ca/programs-services/licences) for more information on EC Sport Licences.
: Licensed Coach Status applicants must have validated and recognized expertise through any of the following: • Coaching certification (including NCCP), or • Recognized formal training, or • Post-secondary equine education, or • Over 15 years of coaching experience (over 20 years in 2023). If you are an NCCP Coach, your record will be automatically recorded in your ECampus. The following is a list of formal training that is currently recognized by Equestrian Canada. A copy of your certificate must be uploaded • IGEQ INTERNATIONAL LEVEL 1 • IGEQ INTERNATIONAL LEVEL 2 • IGEQ INTERNATIONAL LEVEL 3 • CanTRA Coach • CTRII – CanTRA Intermediate Instructor • CTRSI – CanTRA Senior Instructor • Canadian Pony Club – A • CHA Standard Instructor – English: Level Two • CHA Standard Instructor – English: Level Three • CHA Standard Instructor – English: Level Four • CHA Standard Instructor – English: Master Instructor • CHA Standard Instructor – Western: Level Two • CHA Standard Instructor – Western: Level Three • CHA Standard Instructor – Western: Level Four • CHA Standard Instructor – Western: Master Instructor If you are applying based on over 15 years of coaching experience, you are required to complete a Certification Exemption Form upon Coach Status enrolment. Please note there is a one-time processing fee of $200 for Certification Exemption.
: The Certificate of Insurance form (link to pdf: EC Certificate of Insurance Form) should be filled out by the candidate’s insurance company. The candidate will be responsible for uploading the filled form to their ECampus as proof of insurance.
: All Coach Statuses are valid for one year from the date they are issued. Please note that any Coach Status is only active if all the documents submitted are up to date. Look at this scenario as an example: • A Coach Status is issued on April 10, 2022 • It is valid until April 10, 2023, only if all documents are up to date until that date • First aid certificate expires on Oct. 10, 2022; the Coach Status is no longer active • On Nov. 10, 2022, a new certificate is uploaded into ECampus and approved by EC • Coach Status is restored and valid until April 10, 2023 • On April 10, 2023, a new Coach Status will need to be purchased to keep the status valid.
: If you are already working in a first aid field (e.g. as a paramedic), you may substitute a letter from your employer confirming that your first aid skills are up to date.
: There are a couple of reasons: 1- Inactive or non-existent Coach Status a. EC only recognizes instructors/coaches as active if they hold a valid Coach Status. Only active instructors/coaches are listed in their directory. OR 2- Find A Coach consent not given a. You may have forgotten to check the box that gives EC permission to share your information in their directory. Please follow these steps: • Login to your My-EC (link to: https://licence.equestrian.ca/myec/login?lang=en) > click on ECampus > in the right top corner click on your name > click on Edit My Profile • Review your profile information and ensure it is correct • Review and complete the directory information o Review the location to make sure it is correct o Review and click the consent box o Review and click on Geocode Address o Click “save” • Complete the demographic survey information • Review the NCCP professional development points • Review terms of use • Click “save” If you have an active Coach Status and you followed the steps above but you are still not listed, please contact us at coaching@albertaequestrian.com or EC at coaching@equestrian.ca . I completed courses on my ECampus, but my points weren't added to my locker, why? Consent to share your information with the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) not given. You may have forgotten to check the box that gives EC permission to share your information with CAC. Please follow these steps: • Login to your My-EC (link to: https://licence.equestrian.ca/myec/login?lang=en) > click on ECampus > in the right top corner click on your name > click on Edit My Profile o Review the NCCP professional development points o Review terms of use o Enter your NCCP/Locker account number o Click “save” Please note that the system is updated once per month, if after completing the steps above and after one month your points are still not showing in your account, please contact us at coaching@albertaequestrian.com or EC at coaching@equestrian.ca.